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| An AK-47 Assault rifle |
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The
AK-47 is a selective-fire, gas-operated 7.62x39mm assault rifle, first developed in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov. The designation
AK-47 stands for
Kalashnikov Automatic Rifle, 1947 Model (Russian:
Автомат Калашникова 47,
tr. Avtomat Kalashnikova 47). It is officially known as
Avtomat Kalashnikova. It is also known as a
Kalashnikov, an "AK," or, in Russian jargon,
Kalash.
Design work on the AK-47 began in the last year of World War II (1945). After the war in 1946, the AK-46 was presented for official military trials. In 1947 the fixed-stock version was introduced into service with select units of the Soviet Army. An early development of the design was the
AKS-47 (S—
Skladnoy or "folding"), which was equipped with an underfolding metal shoulder stock. In 1949, the AK-47 was officially accepted by the Soviet Armed Forces and used by the majority of the member states of the Warsaw Pact.
The original AK-47 was one of the first true assault rifles.
Even after six decades the model and its variants remain the most widely used and popular assault rifles in the world because of its durability, low production cost, and ease of use. It has been manufactured in many countries and has seen service with regular armed forces as well as irregular, revolutionary and terrorist organizations worldwide. The AK-47 was the basis for developing many other types of individual and crew-served firearms. More AK-type rifles have been produced than all other assault rifles combined.
Firing the 7.62x39mm cartridge, the AK-47 produces significant wounding (including hydrostatic shock) when the projectile tumbles and fragments in tissue;
but it produces relatively minor wounds when the projectile exits the body before beginning to yaw.
Here are some specifications of the AK-47 :-
| Specifications |
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| Weight: | 4.3 kg (9.5 lb) with empty magazine |
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| Length: | 870 mm (34.3 in) fixed wooden stock
875 mm (34.4 in) folding stock extended
645 mm (25.4 in) stock folded |
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| Barrel length: | 415 mm (16.3 in) |
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| Cartridge: | 7.62x39mm M43. |
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| Action: | Gas-operated, rotating bolt. |
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| Rate of fire: | 600 rounds/min. |
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| Muzzle velocity: | 715 m/s (2,346 ft/s). |
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| Effective range: | 300 metres (330 yd) full automatic.
400 metres (440 yd) semi-automatic.
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| Feed system: | 10, 20, or 30-round detachable box magazine, also compatible with 40-round box or 75-round drum magazines from the RPK. |
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| Sights: | Adjustable iron sights, 100–800 metre adjustments, 378 mm (14.9 in) sight radius. | |
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The AK-47 is also a very widely used weapon due to its durability, low production costs and ease of use. Here are some of its users :-
- Afganistan
- Albania
- Algeria
- Angola
- Armenia
- Bangladesh
- Botswana
- Bulgaria
- Bosnia
- Combodia
- Cape Verde
- China: Type 56 variant
- Chile
- Cuba
- Central African Republic
- Egypt
- Ethiopia: Type 56 variant
- Georgia
- Greece
- Gabon
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Israel
- Libya
- Laos
- Macedonia
- Madagascar
- Morocco
- Mongolia
- Malta: Type 56 variant
- North Korea: Type 56 & Type 58 variant
- Pakistan: Type 56 variant
- Peru
- Phillipines
- Poland
- Qatar
- Romania
- Sao Tome
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- Sri Lanka: Type 56 variant
- Sudan
- Syria
- Turkey
- Vietnam: Type 56 variant
